BA, Honors
George Washington University
Washington, DC (1976)
About
Stephen D Aarons
Criminal defense lawyer in Santa Fe, New Mexico. Since 1980 he has defended people in state and federal court across the United States and, while on active military duty, in Europe.
Profile
Practice & background
Since 1980, Steve has defended hundreds of people in all areas of criminal law throughout the United States and on active military duty in Europe. He began his New Mexico practice in 1985.
His work has included assault and battery, domestic violence, driving while intoxicated (DUI and DWI), drug trafficking, murder, and many other charges, in both state and federal court.
When you hire the office, you work with Stephen D Aarons and the staff who help keep urgent matters moving. The focus is on clear advice, courtroom experience, and practical decisions under pressure.
Education
Degrees & study
Formal legal education and advanced military-law training.
JD
Saint Louis University
Saint Louis, MO (1979)
Greyfriars
University of Oxford
Great Britain (1983–1984)
LLM, Military Law
JAG School, University of Virginia
Charlottesville, VA (1985)
Experience
Career
Solo and institutional practice, prosecution in courts-martial, teaching, and trial advocacy training.
Aarons Law Firm PC
1992–present
Solo practice focused on criminal trials and appeals.
Jones, Snead, Wertheim, Wentworth & Jaramillo
1989–1992
Civil and criminal trials.
New Mexico Public Defender Department
1985–1989
Clovis (1985); chief of the death penalty defense division (1986–1989). Handled dozens of murder cases and appellate advocacy in assigned death penalty and murder matters; taught trial advocacy at MCLE seminars.
Judge Advocate General's Corps, US Army Reserves (retired)
Lieutenant Colonel
Senior Trial Counsel, VII Corps, Augsburg, Germany; prosecuted fifty-one courts-martial on active duty (1980–1983). Military Law Professor, Judge Advocate General School, University of Virginia School of Law (1999–2007).
Legal services
1979
Legal Aid lawyer, Great Falls, Montana Legal Services (Volunteers in Service to America): civil litigation and misdemeanor defense for the Blackfeet Tribe.
National Institute of Trial Advocates (NITA) & teaching
1990–2013
Faculty at the University of New Mexico (1992–1999), Harvard (1990), Southern Methodist University (1991), and California Western (1997–1999); National Business Institute. Faculty, New Mexico Criminal Defense Lawyers Association Trial College (2013).
Recognition
Professional associations & ratings
Representative listings from a long defense career. Ratings and memberships are not a guarantee of future results.
US Supreme Court
Bar of the Supreme Court of the United States
Admitted (1983).
National Board of Trial Advocacy
Criminal Trial Specialist
1986–1992.
State bar specialization
Criminal Trial Specialist, New Mexico
New Mexico Bar specialization committees (1991–2006).
Martindale-Hubbell
Highest AV rating
Martindale-Hubbell Law Directory of Preeminent Lawyers (1988–present).
Next step
Talk through your situation.
If you need guidance on a charge or investigation, contact the office to discuss timing, court, and options.